New Harrison Co. school should be easy transition for students

Thursday will be the first day classes will be held at the new $12.4 million River Oaks Elementary School. (Image source: WLOX News.)

For students, starting over at a new school can be difficult, but school leaders and parents are working together to make the transition for students into a new school as smooth as possible. (Image source: WLOX News.)

GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -

The 75,000 square foot brick building is hard to miss on Three Rivers Road. Thursday will be the first day classes will be held at the new $12.4 million River Oaks Elementary School.

For students, starting over at a new school can be difficult, but school leaders and parents are working together to make the transition for students into a new school as smooth as possible.

"I'm excited for the families. I'm excited for the children to have a brand new facility," Dr. Shelly Simmons said.

This will be Simmons' seventh year as a principal in the Harrison County School District. She says being selected to be the head of a brand new school is simply an honor.

"I am very excited. I really consider this an honor to be allowed to be opening a new school, and the confidence and trust that my superintendent and school board members have in me, it's a tremendous honor," Simmons said.

Simmons says she understands that people handle change differently, and she's going to do what she can to make this change as easy for everyone as possible. The idea of having an open door policy sits very well with parents like Amanda Creel who is the mother of two students and an employee of River Oaks.

"It's great to have the open door policy. I have talked to Ms. Simmons, and I think she is excellent and she will do an excellent job with that open door policy," Creel said.

As students and parents take a look into their new school, it's easy to see the excitement on their faces, and the new school year seems to be very promising.

Some students from Woolmarket Elementary, Three Rivers Elementary, Bel-Aire Elementary and possibly Crossroads Elementary will be transferred to the new $12.4 million school.

Thousands of Ingalls workers will receive a second bonus check this week. (Photo source: WLOX)

Thousands of Ingalls workers will receive a second bonus check this week (photo credit: WLOX)

Thousands of Ingalls Shipbuilding workers will get a lot of extra money in the paychecks this week. It's the second installment of a contract bonus from a new contract deal the company and unions reached last November.

Thousands of Ingalls Shipbuilding workers will get a lot of extra money in the paychecks this week. It's the second installment of a contract bonus from a new contract deal the company and unions reached last November.

Bryant has said multiple times that he wants Mississippi to be the safest place in America for an unborn child. Source: Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves

The law goes into effect immediately and the only exceptions are if a fetus has health problems making it incompatible with life outside the womb at full term or if the mother's life or "major bodily function" is threatened by the pregnancy. Pregnancies resulting from rape or incest are not exempt from the new law.

The law goes into effect immediately and the only exceptions are if a fetus has health problems making it incompatible with life outside the womb at full term or if the mother's life or "major bodily function" is threatened by the pregnancy. Pregnancies resulting from rape or incest are not exempt from the new law.

Nikolas Cruz appears in court for a hearing in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on Monday, Feb. 19. Authorities said Cruz’s brother was arrested for trespassing at the same school on Monday, March 19. (Source: Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool)

Nikolas Cruz appears in court for a hearing in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on Monday, Feb. 19. Authorities said Cruz’s brother was arrested for trespassing at the same school on Monday, March 19. (Source: Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool)

Authorities say the brother of the teen charged with killing 17 people at a Florida school has been arrested for trespassing at the same school.

Robert and Irma Talamantez have both practiced Santeria for nearly three decades. They said they aren't cruel and they aren't criminals, they're just believers in a misunderstood religion. (Source: KSAT/CNN)

Robert and Irma Talamantez have both practiced Santeria for nearly three decades. They said they aren't cruel and they aren't criminals, they're just believers in a misunderstood religion.

Bryant has said multiple times that he wants Mississippi to be the safest place in America for an unborn child. Source: Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves

The law goes into effect immediately and the only exceptions are if a fetus has health problems making it incompatible with life outside the womb at full term or if the mother's life or "major bodily function" is threatened by the pregnancy. Pregnancies resulting from rape or incest are not exempt from the new law.

The law goes into effect immediately and the only exceptions are if a fetus has health problems making it incompatible with life outside the womb at full term or if the mother's life or "major bodily function" is threatened by the pregnancy. Pregnancies resulting from rape or incest are not exempt from the new law.